Golfing at Apache Golf Course, Desert Mountain, Scottsdale Arizona

Apache Golf Course:

Although not one of the most popular or well played courses at Desert Mountain, the Apache course will surely give you your money's worth from tee to green. The opening hole will captivate you from a purely "how beautiful is that view down into the valley below" standpoint. If you don't pay attention to your shot making and end up hooking your drive you'll be looking but it won't be at the views! Holes two, three, four and five keep your attention focused on the views and the relative "tightness" of the fairways will require you to be a bit more conservative with your shot selections. If you can keep it on the short grass, the greens are receptive and fair however they are quick and sloped almost deceptively. If your playing partners haven't reminded you by now, I will.....be aware of the mountains (uphill slow putts and the reverse,downhill the "valley effect" which will send your ball dangerously off the back side and nestled in the deep dormant bermuda rough.

Holes seven through nine reverse the theme as you again proceed uphill and back into the mountains. An extra club never hurts on the uphill shots. Hole nine is a tricky blind shot into a dog-leg right green protected by front bunkers and deep backside rough which quickly turns into desert if you have been a little aggressive on the approach. Be thankful for low front nine scores and get ready for an exciting back nine ride.

Hole ten besides providing you with some of the most spectacular views of Apache Peak and the multi-million dollar custom homes thereunder, will test every club in your bag. This short par 4 hole which pretty much takes driver out of play will force the player to make two quality golf shots from initial lay-up to precise landing on a right to left sloped green that appears to defy gravity.

A score of four is a VERY good number on this hole. Did I forget to mention the widest wash on the golf course borders the entire length of the fairway completely eliminating a right side approach to the green? I didn't? My bad!

The back nine is characterized by three challenging par 3's, a couple of long par 4's and two long and winding par 5's which test the right side of your brain....don't be right!

Now for some real adventure! The par 5 eighteenth appears to be just "another golf hole" until you realize just how far it is to the green if you are going to try to make it in two. Unless you can carry a 280 yard shot over wash, desert and boulder outcroppings, my suggestion here is lay up short of the junk and then plan the approach to a knarly green guarded by wash, boulders, bunkers and desert. Incidentally, this hole provides the player with two pin options. Right is way too easy however left is, well, left is an adventure. Your approach needs to be nearly perfect or you could very well have just blown what might have been your best score all year!

The good news is that your finish brings you back to the Apache Steakhouse which is not only some of the best dining at Desert Mountain it also provides one of the finest wine lists in North Scottsdale. Bring your "A" game and don't forget your appetite!